Greetings West Students, Teachers and Parents! Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year!
We are SO excited to open the doors of West Elementary after being closed for almost six months! This has been a challenging, historic year for everyone around the world. Our summer has definitely been a busy one – the busiest opening I’ve ever had in my career to get school ready for our safe opening!
I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to all of our West parents who have been tremendously patient during this time of uncertainty. The number one priority for all students, staff members and family members is SAFETY. We have been diligently planning all summer long to get ready for our hybrid opening! Our teachers and full time para-professionals return on Monday, August 31st. Our part time para-professionals return on September 1st and our students (K-5) return on September 16th.
Have things changed at West Elementary School? Yes, they have. We are following all safety protocols recommended by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and by the Center for Disease Control. Some “highlights” of what to expect:
- The morning drop off will now be in the lower level parking lot (staff parking area). Adults will be supervising the student drop off; students will enter through POD 1 (and not the front lobby)
- Student buses will be queued up as usual, but they will be unloaded by individual bus, one at a time (not all at once).
- We are following all social distancing safety protocols (masks must be worn by all adults, staying six feet apart, with frequent hand washing). All students in grades 2-5 must wear masks; Kindergarten and 1st graders are strongly encouraged to also wear masks.
- There will be a sanitizing station at the front entrance where all visitors will be required to use hand sanitizer and wear a mask if they do not have one.
- If you are sick or running a temperature, please STAY HOME. Visitors with symptoms will not be allowed to enter the building.
- Traffic patterns will be one way, with arrows (similar to the grocery stores).
- Students will be seated six feet apart with individual desks (which will be cleaned frequently throughout the day and every night). There are no more tables, rugs, bean bags, etc.
- Each classroom will have a hand sanitizer station and disinfectant supplies.
- Each student will have their own individual bathroom pass to use when going to the rest room. Students will only be allowed in the bathroom one at a time.
- No supplies will be shared with students. Each student will have their own storage container for their own supplies; they will not be sharing art supplies or instructional supplies.
- Lunches will be held in classrooms under adult supervision. Recess will be by class only (no grade level recesses with the entire class) at a specified location on the West Elementary property. Recess equipment and playground structures will not be used at this time.
- All staff will be required to participate in mandatory COVID safety training on September 2nd.
- Our school nurse, Marisa Shore, has been trained in COVID response readiness, following all guidelines and recommendations by the Center for Disease Control and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- Dismissal will be the same protocols we have always followed in the gym, but students will be called down in small clustered groups and not all at once.
Despite these dramatic changes for safety, we are still pursuing our mission for each child at West to have the best public school experience possible. We are not compromising our high standards, robust academic rigor, while promoting the social and emotional well being for each and every child.
I am excited to being my 8th year as the principal of West, and (more than ever before) I sincerely appreciate your support and patience during this challenging time.
Welcome Back Westies!